Pacific NGO LeVa is promoting Pacific Mental Health and Addictions Scholarships and Pasifika Public Health Workforce Grants. These are to encourage students into, and grow the size and skills of those already in, the Pasifika Public health workforce. Read on for more information and watch inspirational Pasifika people already working in health

With higher rates of mental illness and substance abuse than the general population, and an under-represented mental health and addiction workforce, Le Va’s Futures that Work programme focuses on growing the capacity and capability of the Pacific workforce to support a culturally relevant workforce to meet demand.

In order to grow the size and skills of the Pacific workforce takes more than just financial support, it's also about providing appropriate mentoring, coaching, cultural and pastoral care, as well as support identifying employment and career pathways.

Le Va’s 2018 Pacific Mental Health and Addictions Scholarships not only make a contribution to a student’s course fees but also mentoring, coaching and cultural support options.

Public health is about population groups – looking beyond health care services to the aspects of society, environment, culture, economy and community that shape the health status of populations.

Pasifika peoples continue to have poorer health status than the general New Zealand population, with lower life expectancy and higher rates of mortality and hospitalisations for conditions that could have been avoided, given timely access to effective healthcare.

A key enabler for reducing inequalities in health outcomes is developing a capable workforce. Le Va’s focus is to strengthen the Pacific public health workforce, and enhance the capability of the non-Pacific workforce to ensure access to best possible services for Pasifika people and their families.

If you work in public health, and want to upskill – or have plans to – then these grants could be for you.